Mobile device group app providing customized interactivity

Abstract

Disclosed is a system that may be used by a parent organization or group that allows local entities who are part of the group or parent organization to customize and distribute messages to local customers or other users of a software application provided by the parent organization that may be preloaded with generic messages. Also disclosed are examples of processes and systems providing local members of the group with options controlling how input or data is processed when it is received from customers responding to the customized messages.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system used by a parent organization to allow local entities who are part of the parent organization to customize and distribute messages to users using an application provided by the parent organization, comprising:
 an administration module configured to provide access to the system to a plurality of local entities that are associated with a parent organization, wherein the administration module accesses a database storing data about the local entities that includes an ID;   a message customization module configured to provide access to messages stored on a server computer, wherein the message customization module is configured to allow an individual local entity to create a customized version of a message that includes content specific to the individual local entity, wherein the message customization module is configured to link the ID of the individual local entity with the customized version of the message, and wherein the administration module is configured to accept a request from an individual local entity to send a customized message associated with the individual local entity;   a communication module, wherein the communication module is configured to distribute the customized message to personal computing devices of customers in response to a command from the administration module; and   an application provided by the parent organization configured to execute on personal computing devices of customers, wherein the application is configured to designate one of the plurality of local entities for each customer, wherein the application displays the customized message to the customer using the personal computing device if the ID linked to the customized message matches the ID of the designated local entity.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application suppresses the customized messages if the ID linked to the customized message does not match the ID of the local entity designated by the customer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the message customization module is configured to allow the individual local entity to create a customized message based on a message stored by the parent organization. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application accepts geolocation data from the personal computing devices indicating the geographical location of the personal computing device to enable designation of a local entity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the application applies rules to automatically select the designated local entity based on the geolocation data. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application accepts input from a customer specifying the designated the local entity. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the administration module is configured to accept boundary information from a local entity defining a geographical area, and wherein the system is configured to limit display of the customized message to personal computing devices located in the geographical area. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the geographical area includes the location of the local entity. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customized message sent to the application replaces a message provided by the parent organization. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a message is sent from the personal computing device to the local entity in response to and linked to a customized message. 
     
     
         11 . A system used by a parent organization to allow local entities who are part of the parent organization to customize and distribute messages to users using an application provided by the parent organization, comprising:
 a message stored on a server computer;   a database storing data about a plurality of local entities associated with the parent organization, wherein the local entities are identified in the database by corresponding IDs;   an application provided by the parent organization configured to execute on customer personal computing devices, wherein the application is configured to designate one of the plurality of local entities for each customer;   wherein the system is configured to allow a local entity to create a customized version of the message that includes content specific to that local entity;   wherein the system links the ID of the local entity with the customized message;   wherein the system is configured to distribute the customized message to personal computing devices; and   wherein the application is configured to compare the ID linked with the customized message with the customer's designated local entity ID, and to display the customized message if the IDs match.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the application suppresses the customized messages if the ID linked to the customized message does not match the ID of the local entity designated by the customer. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the application accepts geolocation data from the personal computing devices indicating the geographical location of the personal computing device and uses the geolocation data to designate a local entity. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the application automatically selects the designated local entity. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein application accepts input from a customer specifying the designated the local entity. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system is configured to accept boundary information from a local entity defining a geographical area, and wherein the system is configured to limit display of the customized message to personal computing devices located in the geographical area. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the geographical area includes the location of the local entity. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the customized message sent to the application replaces a message provided by the parent organization. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a message linked to the customized message is sent from the personal computing device to the local entity in response to input by the customer using the application.